Terms Associated with “Consumer Culture”

 

 

Definitions from http://www.m-w.com/ Merriam-Webster On-line

 

 

con·sum·er
Pronunciation: k&n-'sü-m&r
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
: one that consumes : as a : one that utilizes economic goods b : an organism requiring complex organic compounds for food which it obtains by preying on other organisms or by eating particles of organic matter -- compare PRODUCER 4
- con·sum·er·ship /-"ship/ noun

 

 

con·sume
Pronunciation: k&n-'süm
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): con·sumed; con·sum·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French consumer, from Latin consumere, from com- + sumere to take up, take, from sub- up + emere to take -- more at SUB-, REDEEM
transitive senses
1 : to do away with completely : DESTROY <fire consumed several buildings>
2 a : to spend wastefully : SQUANDER b : USE UP <writing consumed much of his time>
3 : to eat or drink especially in great quantity <consumed several kegs of beer>
4 : to engage fully : ENGROSS <consumed with curiosity>
intransitive senses
1 : to waste or burn away : PERISH
2 : to utilize economic goods                                                     

 

 

consumer goods
Function: noun plural
: goods that directly satisfy human wants

 

 

1cul·ture
Pronunciation: 'k&l-ch&r
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin cultura, from cultus, past participle
1 : CULTIVATION, TILLAGE
2 : the act of developing the intellectual and moral faculties especially by education
3 : expert care and training <beauty culture>
4 a : enlightenment and excellence of taste acquired by intellectual and aesthetic training b : acquaintance with and taste in fine arts, humanities, and broad aspects of science as distinguished from vocational and technical skills
5 a : the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon man's capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations b : the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group c : the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes a company or corporation
6 : cultivation of living material in prepared nutrient media; also : a product of such cultivation

 

 

 

pro·duc·er
Pronunciation: pr&-'dü-s&r, prO-, -'dyü-
Function: noun
1 : one that produces; especially : one that grows agricultural products or manufactures crude materials into articles of use
2 : a furnace or apparatus that produces combustible gas to be used for fuel by circulating air or a mixture of air and steam through a layer of incandescent fuel
3 : a person who supervises or finances the production of a stage or screen production or radio or television program
4 : any of various organisms (as a green plant) which produce their own organic compounds from simple precursors (as carbon dioxide and inorganic nitrogen) and many of which are food sources for other organisms -- compare CONSUMER

 

 

producer goods
Function: noun plural
: goods (as tools and raw materials) used to produce other goods and satisfy human wants only indirectly

 

 

 

1want
Pronunciation: 'wont also 'wänt & 'w&nt
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse vanta; akin to Old English wan deficient
intransitive senses
1 : to be needy or destitute
2 : to have or feel need <never wants for friends>
3 : to be necessary or needed
4 : to desire to come, go, or be <the cat wants in> <wants out of the deal>
transitive senses
1 : to fail to possess especially in customary or required amount : LACK <the answer wanted courtesy>
2 a : to have a strong desire for <wanted a chance to rest> b : to have an inclination to : LIKE <say what you want, he is efficient>
3 a : to have need of : REQUIRE <the motor wants a tune-up> b : to suffer from the lack of <thousands still want food and shelter>
4 : OUGHT -- used with the infinitive <you want to be very careful what you say -- Claudia Cassidy>
5 : to wish or demand the presence of
6 : to hunt or seek in order to apprehend <wanted for murder>
synonym see DESIRE

 

 

2want
Function: noun
1 a : DEFICIENCY, LACK <suffers from a want of good sense> b : grave and extreme poverty that deprives one of the necessities of life
2 : something wanted : NEED, DESIRE
3 : personal defect : FAULT
synonym see POVERTY

 

 

1de·sire
Pronunciation: di-'zIr, dE-
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): de·sired; de·sir·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French desirer, from Latin desiderare, from de- + sider-, sidus heavenly body
transitive senses
1 : to long or hope for : exhibit or feel desire for
2 a : to express a wish for : REQUEST b archaic : to express a wish to : ASK
3 obsolete : INVITE
4 archaic : to feel the loss of
intransitive senses : to have or feel desire
synonyms DESIRE, WISH, WANT, CRAVE, COVET mean to have a longing for. DESIRE stresses the strength of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim <desires to start a new life>. WISH sometimes implies a general or transient longing especially for the unattainable <wishes for permanent world peace>. WANT specifically suggests a felt need or lack <wants to have a family>. CRAVE stresses the force of physical appetite or emotional need <craves sweets>. COVET implies strong envious desire <covets his rise to fame>.

 

 

2desire
Function: noun
1 : conscious impulse toward something that promises enjoyment or satisfaction in its attainment
2 a : LONGING, CRAVING b : sexual urge or appetite
3 : a usually formal request or petition for some action
4 : something desired

 

 

1plea·sure
Pronunciation: 'ple-zh&r, 'plA-
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English plesure, alteration of plesir, from Middle French plaisir, from plaisir to please
1 : DESIRE, INCLINATION <wait upon his pleasure -- Shakespeare>
2 : a state of gratification
3 a : sensual gratification b : frivolous amusement
4 : a source of delight or joy

 

 

grat·i·fy
Pronunciation: 'gra-t&-"fI
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -fied; -fy·ing
Etymology: Middle French gratifier, from Latin gratificari to show kindness to, from gratus + -ificari, passive of -ificare -ify
1 archaic : REMUNERATE, REWARD
2 : to be a source of or give pleasure or satisfaction to <it gratified him to have his wife wear jewels -- Willa Cather>
3 : to give in to : INDULGE, SATISFY <gratify a whim>              

                                                                                                 

                                                                                                 

sat·is·fy
Pronunciation: 'sa-t&s-"fI
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -fied; -fy·ing
Etymology: Middle English satisfien, from Middle French satisfier, modification of Latin satisfacere, from satis enough + facere to do, make -- more at SAD, DO
transitive senses
1 a : to carry out the terms of (as a contract) : DISCHARGE b : to meet a financial obligation to
2 : to make reparation to (an injured party) : INDEMNIFY
3 a : to make happy : PLEASE b : to gratify to the full : APPEASE
4 a : CONVINCE b : to put an end to (doubt or uncertainty) : DISPEL
5 a : to conform to (as specifications) : be adequate to (an end in view) b : to make true by fulfilling a condition <values that satisfy an equation> <satisfy a hypothesis>
intransitive senses : to be adequate : SUFFICE; also : PLEASE
synonym see PAY
- sat·is·fy·ing·ly /-i[ng]-lE/ adverb

 

 

 

1need
Pronunciation: 'nEd
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English ned, from Old English nIed, nEd; akin to Old High German nOt distress, need, Old Prussian nautin need
1 : necessary duty : OBLIGATION
2 a : a lack of something requisite, desirable, or useful b : a physiological or psychological requirement for the well-being of an organism
3 : a condition requiring supply or relief
4 : lack of the means of subsistence : POVERTY

 

 

2need
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): need·ed; need·ing; needs or (auxiliary) need
intransitive senses
1 : to be needful or necessary
2 : to be in want
transitive senses : to be in need of : REQUIRE
verbal auxiliary : be under necessity or obligation to <you need not answer>  

                                                                                                 

 

lux·u·ry
Pronunciation: 'l&k-sh(&-)rE, -zh(&-)rE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ries
Etymology: Middle English luxurie, from Middle French, from Latin luxuria rankness, luxury, excess; akin to Latin luxus luxury, excess
1 archaic : LECHERY, LUST
2 : a condition of abundance or great ease and comfort : sumptuous environment <lived in luxury>
3 a : something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary b : an indulgence in something that provides pleasure, satisfaction, or ease <had the luxury of rejecting a handful of job offers... before accepting a choice assignment -- Terri Minsky>
- luxury adjective

 

 

ne·ces·si·ty
Pronunciation: ni-'se-s&-tE, -'ses-tE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ties
Etymology: Middle English necessite, from Middle French necessité, from Latin necessitat-, necessitas, from necesse
1 : the quality or state of being necessary
2 a : pressure of circumstance b : physical or moral compulsion c : impossibility of a contrary order or condition
3 : the quality or state of being in need; especially : POVERTY
4 a : something that is necessary : REQUIREMENT b : an urgent need or desire
- of necessity : in such a way that it cannot be otherwise also : as a necessary consequence

 

 

2waste
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): wast·ed; wast·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old North French waster, from Latin vastare, from vastus desolate, waste
transitive senses
1 : to lay waste; especially : to damage or destroy gradually and progressively <reclaiming land wasted by strip-mining>
2 : to cause to shrink in physical bulk or strength : EMACIATE, ENFEEBLE
3 : to wear away or diminish gradually : CONSUME
4 a : to spend or use carelessly : SQUANDER b : to allow to be used inefficiently or become dissipated
5 : KILL; also : to injure severely
intransitive senses
1 : to lose weight, strength, or vitality -- often used with away
2 a : to become diminished in bulk or substance b : to become consumed
3 : to spend money or consume property extravagantly or improvidently
synonym see RAVAGE
- waste one's breath : to accomplish nothing by speaking